Wysi·Wyg Volume I, Issue 3

The Truth About Myspace
by Rebecca E.

It is the 21st century, and we are now living in an age where technology rules. If you aren’t up to speed with all the newest gadgets and gizmos, then you just are not “in”. Not to mention, the lovely vocabulary that accompanies all of this new computer mumbo jumbo. Most of us today are accustomed to terms such as iPod, blackberry, sidekick, texting, Bluetooth, mp3, Smart boards, etc, etc. While the words themselves may not be so strange, the context in which we use them is. Just imagine if someone had been in a coma for 10 years and then woke up to hear all the latest gadget talk. It’s a whole other language entirely. They would probably wonder how on earth someone could possibly talk and text on a sidekick, and wonder when assorted fruits started containing access to email. It all becomes quite ridiculous actually.

What really gets me though is the newest online craze where people make all the details of their personal lives available to anyone who can get their hands on a computer all across the globe. Oh yes, you know it, the dreaded blog. First of all, why on earth would anyone be compelled to pour out their life passion of writing into something called a Blog?

Perhaps the name refers to what most of them contain (and keep in mind this is a direct quote): “Blah blah blah boyfriend blah blah cheated blah blah my life is meaningless blah blah blah blah cry blah blah I don’t even know you but feel free to read about my problems blah blah blah....”

Blah blah blah-Blog. But I’ve left out the most important Blog of all...MySpace. Don’t lie, I know each and every one of you out there has joined the masses (consisting mostly of angsty teenagers and desperate 40 year old men who still live in their mother’s basements and need the aid of online dating services) and have your own pages.

They say that if we’re not careful, history repeats itself. Well I don’t now for sure how many computers they had way back then, but there sure were plenty of people out for world domination. And MySpace just happens to be controlled by one person, Tom. Now, before you put this paper down and wander over to the couch to have your mind controlled by television infomercials, realize that this is not just another conspiracy theory. Just take a moment to consider the future of your country, and realize that those annoying hoodlums, who are constantly driving past you with loud, vulgar music playing in their parent’s brand new Escalades, are the future of your country.

That’s right, not only do you have to pay taxes so they can drive to school on roads you paid for and fail the classes that would have helped them acquire meaningful jobs in life, you are also leaving the future up to them. And you can bet your bottom dollar that each and every one of those teenagers has a MySpace. So, in actuality, the future lies in the hands of one man, the so-called creator of MySpace, Tom.

According to www.trudat.com, the MySpace website currently contains over 102 million users all over the globe, and each of them spends an average if 6.763 ½ hours a day online. And the creator, Tom, easily has access to each and every one of their minds during this time.

Making the world a better connected place by creating a website for friends and popular bands alike to congregate? I doubt it. More likely, the true creators behind MySpace are simply biding their time before they unleash the world’s largest army, consisting of millions of brainwashed teens and other socially deprived men and women who have resorted to this new and hip online blogger site as a means of “making friends.” Scoff if you wish, but mark my words, someday a new and improved technological revolution shall come and you can only pray that Tom is not coming after you.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I have a new friend request.

The Truth About Myspace by Rebecca E. It is the 21st century, and we are now living in an age where technology rules. If you aren’t up to speed with all the newest gadgets and gizmos, then you just are not “in”. Not to mention, the lovely vocabulary that accompanies all of this new computer mumbo jumbo. Most of us today are accustomed to terms such as iPod, blackberry, sidekick, texting, Bluetooth, mp3, Smart boards, etc, etc. While the words themselves may not be so strange, the context in which we use them is. Just imagine if someone had been in a coma for 10 years and then woke up to hear all the latest gadget talk. It’s a whole other language entirely. They would probably wonder how on earth someone could possibly talk and text on a sidekick, and wonder when assorted fruits started containing access to email. It all becomes quite ridiculous actually. What really gets me though is the newest online craze where people make all the details of their personal lives available to anyone who can get their hands on a computer all across the globe. Oh yes, you know it, the dreaded blog. First of all, why on earth would anyone be compelled to pour out their life passion of writing into something called a Blog? Perhaps the name refers to what most of them contain (and keep in mind this is a direct quote): “Blah blah blah boyfriend blah blah cheated blah blah my life is meaningless blah blah blah blah cry blah blah I don’t even know you but feel free to read about my problems blah blah blah....” Blah blah blah-Blog. But I’ve left out the most important Blog of all...MySpace. Don’t lie, I know each and every one of you out there has joined the masses (consisting mostly of angsty teenagers and desperate 40 year old men who still live in their mother’s basements and need the aid of online dating services) and have your own pages. They say that if we’re not careful, history repeats itself. Well I don’t now for sure how many computers they had way back then, but there sure were plenty of people out for world domination. And MySpace just happens to be controlled by one person, Tom. Now, before you put this paper down and wander over to the couch to have your mind controlled by television infomercials, realize that this is not just another conspiracy theory. Just take a moment to consider the future of your country, and realize that those annoying hoodlums, who are constantly driving past you with loud, vulgar music playing in their parent’s brand new Escalades, are the future of your country. That’s right, not only do you have to pay taxes so they can drive to school on roads you paid for and fail the classes that would have helped them acquire meaningful jobs in life, you are also leaving the future up to them. And you can bet your bottom dollar that each and every one of those teenagers has a MySpace. So, in actuality, the future lies in the hands of one man, the so-called creator of MySpace, Tom. According to www.trudat.com, the MySpace website currently contains over 102 million users all over the globe, and each of them spends an average if 6.763 ½ hours a day online. And the creator, Tom, easily has access to each and every one of their minds during this time. Making the world a better connected place by creating a website for friends and popular bands alike to congregate? I doubt it. More likely, the true creators behind MySpace are simply biding their time before they unleash the world’s largest army, consisting of millions of brainwashed teens and other socially deprived men and women who have resorted to this new and hip online blogger site as a means of “making friends.” Scoff if you wish, but mark my words, someday a new and improved technological revolution shall come and you can only pray that Tom is not coming after you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I have a new friend request.